Terrebonne Parish officials discuss expanded land-use rules

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 10:33 AM

Parish officials discussed the possible expansion of land-use rules to some of Terrebonne’s growing northern areas as part of a master plan that aims to guide local government decision making through 2030.

Chance RyanStaff Writer

Parish officials discussed the possible expansion of land-use rules to some of Terrebonne’s growing northern areas as part of a master plan that aims to guide local government decision making through 2030.The Vision 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan, a 300-page public document, gives residents, developers, designers and lawmakers a roadmap of where the parish is headed. The plan does not hold the weight of law, but it’s in its final stages after numerous public-input meetings.Terrebonne Planning Director Pat Gordon gave an overview of the plan Wednesday night to the Parish Council.Projects such as extending Bayou Gardens Boulevard from Coteau Road to Bayou Blue Road are in the works, Gordon said, and will provide room for more retail businesses while smoothing traffic. “We’d like to see expanded zoning areas further north,” Gordon told the council. “And make sure the parish is well served by attractive commercial districts in appropriate locations that meet the day-to-day needs of its residents and visitors.”Zoning laws, or land-use restrictions, have been hotly debated over the years in Terrebonne. Proponents say such rules are necessary to encourage orderly commercial and residential development. Opponents have decried it as an intrusive government telling landowners what they can and can’t do with their property.One of the highlights Gordon addressed was the parish’s need to do something with the vacant lots where condemned homes were demolished after hurricanes. Gordon proposed supporting efforts to “creatively and attractively” use vacant lots and parcels in developed areas “to meet community-housing needs.”“We’d like to see infill developments to try and deter suburban sprawl and increase development,” Gordon said. “Over the last couple years, we’ve torn down well over 800 structures, and we’d like to see some of those vacant lots redeveloped and find ways to assist nonprofit organizations to fix some of these infill problems.” Parish President Michel Claudet said a project is already under way to help nonprofits find money to build new facilities on vacant lots. Alex Ostheimer, a member of the Houma-Terrebonne Regional Planning Commission, said overall he is happy with the plan but concerned that the Morganza-to-the-Gulf levee system may take up too much land that would otherwise be used for homes, businesses or other development.“I urge you to find out exactly how many acres of land they need to build this system,” Ostheimer told the council, referring to the Army Corps of Engineers’ levee system. “The system is currently counted in the 8 percent of land that we think is developable and consequently may be lost if we don’t revisit the alignment and construction of that design so that our great grandchildren will be able to stay here and have a place to live.” The next public meeting on the master plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Government Tower, 8026 Main St., Houma. The council is expected to decide whether to approve it during the same meeting.The public may address the council about any agenda items. All public meeting agendas, along with the master plan, can be viewed on the parish’s website, www.tpcg.org.